Iran's Reformist Parliament Condemns Suppression of Dissent - 2002-08-05

The majority of Iran's reformist parliament has condemned what they see as the continued suppression of dissent by conservative courts. In a statement signed by 150 out of 290 members of the Iranian parliament, they warned that the seemingly unending repression of reformists will lead the country into a quagmire. The statement, published on Sunday, referenced the dissolution of the Freedom Movement of Iran, a major reformist political organization, by a hardline revolutionary court last July. In addition to the dissolution, over 30 of its members were sentenced to prison for terms ranging from four months to ten years on charges of conspiracy to overthrow the Islamic government of Iran. In recent months, several other activists have also been imprisoned, and more than 80 reformist newspapers have been shut down. The statement, published in reformist-supporting newspapers in Tehran on Sunday, called on President Mohammad Khatami and parliament members to openly and clearly address the increasing violations of law. It also stated that imprisoned dissenters have been deprived of a fair trial. The Press Freedom Defense Union, a media watchdog group, stated that the mass suppression of newspapers may lead to the emigration of Iranian journalists to other countries.